Ah… to be a kid again; this photo of my much younger boys captures the essence of doing nothing.  It was a gorgeous, hot day, so the remedy was to stay cool. Let’s put patio chairs on our heads and blast the sprinkler. So innovative!  Actually, isn’t that what life’s about, taking moments like these, be it an hour, a day, or a few minutes, to experience some downtime?

The Italians have a lovely phrase, dolce far niente, which means the sweetness of doing nothing. It doesn’t mean being lazy; rather, it’s about the pleasure one finds in being idle or present in the moment. Sounds wonderful, but is it hard to do? There never seem to be enough hours in the day. It’s time to leave guilt, chores, and to-do lists behind.

I know this may feel unfamiliar to most of us; it’s a lesson in letting go. Dolce far niente, which the Italians wholeheartedly embrace as part of their culture and daily routines. I think we can all agree that Italians know a few things about how to savour the moment.

Savouring the moment and doing nothing doesn’t necessarily mean sitting in a chair and staring at a wall unless that’s your thing. I hate to think of all those special moments I missed because I was too busy being busy, and then “poof,” you wonder where the time went.

I recently downsized from a house to a townhouse, and it was definitely an exercise in letting go. But I’m finding that less really is more. I guess I’ve always been a minimalist at heart—it suits me. Fewer things mean less clutter, not just in my home but in my head. It also frees up more time for me to choose how I spend my days.

Weekends are my favorite. I love the freedom of having no set plans—no workouts to rush to, no need to be out the door early. I could happily spend the day in my pajamas, sipping coffee and listening to music. That’s my version of dolce far niente—the sweetness of doing nothing.

But here’s what I’m wondering: how do I bring that same sense of idle ease into my day-to-day life?

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. And honestly? That’s crazy!

So change something. Take a walk at lunch instead of eating at your desk. Call a friend instead of sending a quick text. Bake instead of buying. Talk to your neighbours. Walk the dog in the opposite direction. It’s not rocket science—it’s simply choosing one small thing each day that feels enjoyable, that makes you happy.

Because the truth is, there are only so many hours in a day, and only so many moments worth remembering. If you don’t stop and look up now and then, you’ll miss them. Like the photo I snapped of my boys, a precious moment of laughter outside—thankfully, I paused long enough to notice, and the camera caught it perfectly.

Dolce far niente. The sweetness of doing nothing.

And how very sweet nothing can be.

LC